Physical Therapy Device and Methods for Use Thereof

ABSTRACT

The present application relates to a physical therapy device to strengthen and prevent atrophy in muscles for use while seated in a chair or a wheelchair or while lying in a bed. The physical therapy device includes a back rest; right and left upper arm rests coupled to the back rest by a first connector; and right and left lower arm rests coupled to the right and left upper arm rests, respectively, by a second connector. Each lower arm rest comprises a handle. Each upper arm rest is configured to move towards the back rest at the first connector to fold flush against the back rest. The physical therapy device further comprises an extender coupled to the back rest; right and left upper leg units coupled to the extender by a third connector; and right and left lower leg units coupled to the right and left upper leg units, respectively, by a fourth connector. Each lower leg unit comprises a stirrup.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Non-Provisional patent application, filed under 35 U.S.C. §111(a),claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e)(1) of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/752, 756, filed under 35 U.S.C. §111(b) on Jan. 15,2013, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure relates to a physical therapy device for use in aseated or lying position. Further, the present disclosure provides aphysical therapy device that may be folded flat for storage or travel.

2. Description of Related Art

It is well known that during extended periods of physical inactivity,muscles atrophy and lose their tone. For example, people who arewheelchair-bound, bedbound (including, for example, pregnant women onbed rest, and persons recovering from accidents, injuries, surgery, orstroke), or confined to zero- or micro-gravity conditions may not beable to engage in sufficiently strenouous physical activity to preventmuscle atrophy and loss of muscle tone.

The solution to this problem is provided by the embodimentscharacterized in the claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present application relates to a physical therapy device tostrengthen and prevent atrophy in muscles for use while, for example,seated in a chair or wheelchair or while lying in a bed. Further, thephysical therapy device may be folded flat for storage or travel. It isalso lightweight and easy to carry.

An embodiment of the present invention is directed to a physical therapydevice comprising a back rest; a right upper arm rest coupled to theback rest by a connector; a left upper arm rest coupled to the back restby a connector; a right lower arm rest coupled to the right upper armrest by a connector; and a left lower arm rest coupled to the left upperarm rest by a connector. Each lower arm rest comprises a handle,stirrup, knob, or other attachment/engagement means. Each upper arm restis configured to move toward the back rest at the first connector tofold flush against the back rest.

The physical therapy device may further comprise an extender portioncoupled to the back rest; a right upper leg unit coupled to the extenderby a connector; a left upper leg unit coupled to the extender by aconnector; a right lower leg unit coupled to the right upper leg unit bya connector; and a left lower leg unit coupled to the left upper legunit by a connector. Each lower leg unit may comprise a stirrup, bar, orsimilar means for engaging or attaching to a user's extremity.

In one embodiment is provided a physical therapy device comprising: aback rest; a right upper arm rest removably coupled to the back rest bya first connector; a left upper arm rest removably coupled to the backrest by a second connector; a right lower arm rest removably coupled tothe right upper arm rest by a third connector; and a left lower arm restremovably coupled to the left upper arm rest by a fourth connector;wherein each lower arm rest comprises a handle, and wherein the rightand left upper arm rests are configured to move toward the back rest atthe first and second connectors, respectively, to fold flush against theback rest.

The physical therapy device may further comprise a plurality of clipscoupled to the back rest, wherein the clips are configured to fold flushagainst the back rest and to attach to a back of a chair, a wheelchair,and/or a headboard.

The back rest of the physical therapy device may comprise a removableinsert. The removable insert may comprise a thin, strong, lightweight,and flexible material.

The physical therapy device may further comprise a head rest coupled tothe back rest, wherein the head rest is configured to fold flush againstthe back rest.

The first and the second connectors may be configured to providevariable resistance between the back rest and the right and left upperarm rests, respectively, and the third and fourth connectors may beconfigured to provide variable resistance between the right upper armrest and the right lower arm rest and between the left upper arm restand the left lower arm rest, respectively.

The may be right lower arm rest is configured to move toward right upperarm rest at the third connector to fold flush against the right upperarm rest, and the left lower arm rest may be configured to move towardleft upper arm rest at the fourth connector to fold flush against theleft upper arm rest.

The handle may comprise an ergonomical mold.

The physical therapy device may further comprise: an extender removablycoupled to the back rest; a right upper leg unit removably coupled tothe extender by a fifth connector; a left upper leg unit removablycoupled to the extender by a sixth connector; a right lower leg unitremovably coupled to the right upper leg unit by a seventh connector,and a left lower leg unit removably coupled to the left upper leg unitby a eighth connector, wherein each lower leg unit comprises a stirrup.

The right upper leg unit may be configured to move toward the back restat the fifth connector to fold flush against the back rest and the leftupper leg unit may be configured to move toward the back rest at thesixth connector to fold flush against the back rest.

The right and left lower leg units may be configured to move toward theright and left upper leg units, respectively, at the seventh and eighthconnectors, respectively, to fold flush against the respective upper legunits.

The fifth and sixth connectors may be configured to provide variableresistance between the back rest and the right and left upper leg units,respectively, and the seventh and eighth connectors may be configured toprovide variable resistance between the right upper leg unit and theright lower leg unit and between the left upper leg unit and the leftlower leg unit, respectively.

The back rest, right and left upper arm rests, and right and left lowerarm rests may comprise a synthetic material or a resin covered in lightpadding.

The right and left upper leg rests and the right and left lower legrests may comprise a synthetic material or a resin covered in lightpadding.

The first, second, third, and fourth connectors may beadjustable-tension connectors.

The fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth connectors may beadjustable-tension connectors.

Each upper arm rest may be configured to move radially with respect tothe back rest, the right lower arm rest may be configured to moveradially with respect to the right upper arm rest, and the left lowerarm rest may be configured to move radially with respect to the leftupper arm rest.

Each upper leg unit may be configured to move radially with respect tothe back rest, and may be the right lower leg unit is configured to moveradially with respect to the right upper leg unit, and the left lowerleg unit may be configured to move radially with respect to the leftupper leg unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages ofthe present disclosure, reference should be had to the followingdetailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a physical therapy device of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A-2F show the arm movements that may be performed with thephysical therapy device of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A-3C show the leg movements that may be performed with thephysical therapy device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before the subject disclosure is further described, it is to beunderstood that the disclosure is not limited to the particularembodiments of the disclosure described below, as variations of theparticular embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope ofthe appended claims. It is also to be understood that the terminologyemployed is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, and isnot intended to be limiting. Instead, the scope of the presentdisclosure will be established by the appended claims.

In this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical andscientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonlyunderstood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosurebelongs.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a physical therapy device (10)according to the present invention. The physical therapy devicecomprises a back rest (20) having front (21) and back (22) surfaces, aswell as upper (23), lower (24), right (25), and left (26) sides. Thephysical therapy device (10) further comprises right (30) and left (40)upper arm rests, each having proximal (31, 41) and distal (32, 42) ends,the proximal end of the right upper arm rest (31) being attached to theright side (25) of the back rest (20), toward the upper side (theupper-right side, 27), and the proximal end of the left upper arm rest(41) being attached to the left side (26) of the back rest (20), towardthe upper side (the upper-left side, 28). In other words, both upper armrests (30, 40) are attached to opposite sides (27, 28) of the back rest(20). The physical therapy device (10) further comprises right (50) andleft (60) lower arm rests, each having proximal (51, 61) and distal (52,62) ends, the proximal end of the right lower arm rest (51) beingattached to the distal end of the right upper arm rest (32), and theproximal end of the left lower arm rest (61) being attached to thedistal end of the left upper arm rest (42). Each lower arm rest (50, 60)comprises an ergonomically molded handle (53, 63), at the distal end(52, 62), for the user to grasp.

A connector (201) couples the upper-right side (27) of the back rest(20) to the proximal end (31) of the right upper arm rest (30), and aconnector (202) couples the upper-left side (28) of the back rest (20)to the proximal end (41) of the left upper arm rest (40). A connector(203) couples the distal end (32) of the right upper arm rest (30) tothe proximal end (51) of the right lower arm rest (50), and a connector(204) couples the distal end (42) of the left upper arm rest (40) to theproximal end (61) of the left lower arm rest (60).

The right (30) and left (40) upper arm rests may be folded flush againstthe right (25) and left (26) sides, respectively, of the back rest (20)via the connectors (201, 202) connecting each upper arm rest to the backrest. The right (50) and left (60) lower arm rests may be folded flushagainst the right (30) and left (40) upper arm rests, respectively, viathe connectors (203, 204) connecting each lower arm rest to each upperarm rest. Thus, the physical therapy device (10) may be folded flat(i.e., for storage or travel).

The physical therapy device (10) according to the present disclosure mayfurther comprise a head rest (11), an optional extender (70), upper legunits (80, 90), and lower leg units (100, 110). The head rest (11) isattached to the upper side (23) of the back rest (20) and an optionalextender (70), having front (71) and back (72) surfaces, as well asupper (73), lower (74), right (75), and left (76) sides, is attached viathe upper surface (73) to the lower side (24) of the back rest (20). Ifthe optional extender (70) is supplied, then the physical therapy device(10) further comprises right (80) and left (90) upper leg units, eachhaving proximal (81, 91) and distal (82, 92) ends, the proximal end (81)of the right upper leg unit (80) being attached to the lower side (74)of the extender (70), toward the right side (77), and the proximal end(91) of the left upper leg unit (90) being attached to the lower side(74) of the extender (70), toward the left side (78). The physicaltherapy device (10) further comprises right (100) and left (110) lowerleg units, each having proximal (101, 111) and distal (102, 112) ends,the proximal end (101) of the right lower leg unit (100) being attachedto the distal end (82) of the right upper leg unit (80), and theproximal end (111) of the left lower leg unit (110) being attached tothe distal end (92) of the left upper leg unit (90). The distal end(102, 112) of each lower leg unit (100, 110) comprises an engagementmeans (120), for example a stirrup or a foot bar, for at least one ofthe user's lower distal extremities to rest on or otherwise engage atleast one lower leg unit (100, 110).

A connector (301) couples the proximal end (81) of the right upper legunit (80) to the lower side (74) of the extender (70), at the right side(77). A connector (302) couples the proximal end (91) of the left upperleg unit (90) to the lower side (74) of the extender (70), at the leftside (78). A connector (303) couples the proximal end (101) of the rightlower leg unit (100) to the distal end (82) of the right upper leg unit(80). A connector (304) couples the proximal end (111) of the left lowerleg unit (110) to the distal end (92) of the left upper leg unit (90).

The right (80) and left (90) upper leg units may be folded flush againstthe right (25) and left (26) sides, respectively, of the back rest (20)via the connectors (301, 302) connecting each upper leg unit (80, 90) tothe back rest (20). The right (100) and left (110) lower leg units maybe folded flush against the right (80) and left (90) upper leg units,respectively, via the connectors (303, 304) connecting each lower legunit to each upper leg unit. Thus, the physical therapy device (10) maybe folded flat (i.e., for storage or travel).

The physical therapy device (10) may slip over the back of a chair withan attachment means (400) such as a sleeve (410) or at least one belt(420). The back surface (22) of the back rest (20) may comprise clips(430), or similar attachment means known in the art, to attach thephysical therapy device (10) to the back of a chair, headboard, orwheelchair. The clips (430) may be folded flush against the back rest(22). The physical therapy device (10) may also be stabilized betweenthe user's body and the back of the chair or bed with the user's weight.

The connectors (201-204, 301-304) may provide for flexion and extension(i.e., one degree of freedom) between the back rest (20) and the upperarm rests (30, 40), between the upper arm rests (30, 40) and the lowerarm rests (50, 60), between the upper leg units (80, 90) and theextender (70), and between the upper leg units (80, 90) and the lowerleg units (100, 110), respectively. The connectors (201-204, 301-304)may provide for flexion/extension and inversion/eversion (i.e., twodegrees of freedom) between the back rest (20) and the upper arm rests(30, 40), between the upper arm rests (30, 40) and the lower arm rests(50, 60), between the upper leg units (80, 90) and the extender (70),and between the upper leg units (80, 90) and the lower leg units (100,110), respectively. The connectors (201-204, 301-304) may providepivotable movement (i.e., three degrees of freedom) between the backrest (20) and the upper arm rests (30, 40), between the upper arm rests(30, 40) and the lower arm rests (50, 60), between the upper leg units(80, 90) and the extender (70), and between the upper leg units (80, 90)and the lower leg units (100, 110), respectively. The device (10) maycomprise combinations of connectors (201-204, 301-304) providing one,two, or three degrees of freedom, as desired. For example, theconnectors (301, 302) that couple the proximal ends (81, 91) of theupper leg units (80, 90) to the lower side (74) of the extender (70) mayprovide three degrees of freedom, while the connectors (303, 304) thatcouple the proximal ends (101, 111) of the lower leg units (100, 110) tothe distal ends (82, 92) of the upper leg units (80, 90) may provide oneor two degrees of freedom. Similarly, the connectors (201, 202) thatcouple the upper-right and upper-left sides (27, 28) of back rest (20)to the proximal ends (31, 41) of the upper arm rests (30, 40) mayprovide three degrees of freedom, while the connectors (203, 204) thatcouple the distal ends (32, 41) of the upper arm rests (30, 40) to theproximal ends (51, 61) of the lower arm rests (50, 60) may provide oneor two degrees of freedom. In this manner, the connectors (201-204)allow the upper arm rests (30, 40) to move with respect to the back rest(20) and the lower arm rests (50, 60) to move with respect to the upperarm rests (30, 40) as shown in FIGS. 2A-2F. The connectors (301-304)also allow the upper leg units (80, 90) to move with respect to theextender (70) and the lower leg units (100, 110) to move with respect tothe upper leg units (80, 90) as shown in 3A-3C.

The connectors (201-204, 301-304) may provide resistance to movementbetween the back rest (20) and the upper arm rests (30, 40), between theupper arm rests (30, 40) and the lower arm rests (50, 60), between theupper leg units (80, 90) and the extender (70), and between the upperleg units (80, 90) and the lower leg units (100, 110). Said resistancemay be variable resistance. Adjustable-tension connectors may be used.The resistance may be adjusted in the connectors (201-204, 301-304) forexample, by a spring tension system, a ratchet system, twisting screwcaps on the connector, tightening and loosening the connector with anallen wrench, and other methods known in the art. The connectors(201-204, 301-304) may also be secured to a revolving plate to allowradial movement of the arm rests (30, 40, 50, 60) and leg units (80, 90,100, 110) via the connectors (201-204, 301-304).

The materials of construction for the back rest (20), arm rests (30, 40,50, 60), extender (70), and leg units (80, 90, 100, 110) may besynthetic or other lightweight materials (including, for example: aresin, including those comprising fiberglass and carbon fiber composite;metal, including aluminum, steel, titanium, and alloys thereof; andcarbon fiber) optionally covered completely or partially with padding.Thus, the physical therapy device (10) is lightweight and easy to carry.The material may be somewhat flexible for comfort, but rigid enough toprovide resistance when connected. The back rest (20) may comprise aremovable insert to enhance rigidity when the device (10) is attached toa chair or used in a bed. The insert may be thin, strong, lightweight,and somewhat flexible.

Each of the upper arm rests (30, 40), lower arm rests (50, 60), upperleg units (80, 90), and lower leg units (100, 110) may be fixed oradjustable in length (i.e., the distance between their proximal anddistal ends may be static or may be lengthened or shortened at a user'sdiscretion). For example, each of the upper arm rests (30, 40), lowerarm rests (50, 60), upper leg units (80, 90), and lower leg units (100,110) may comprise a telescoping tube, whereby the upper arm rests (30,40) may be configured to be slidably movable relative to the lower armrests (50, 60), and vice versa. The upper leg units (80, 90), may beconfigured to be slidably movable relative to the lower leg units (100,110), and vice versa. The back rest (20) may be configured to beslidably movable relative to the extender unit (70), and vice versa.Those of ordinary skill in the art will readily apprehend how suchslidable movement may be achieved from such devices as, for example,crutches and camera tripods. By providing components that are slidablymovable relative to one another, the instant device can be adjusted toaccommodate individuals of differing heights, arm lengths, leg lengths,etc.

Each of the upper arm rests (30, 40), lower arm rests (50, 60), upperleg units (80, 90), and lower leg units (100, 110) may optionally beomitted or removed from the device (10) at the user's discretion. Eachof the upper arm rests (30, 40) and upper leg units (80, 90) may furthercomprise attachment or engagement means (e.g., one or more stirrup,strap, handle, knob, bar, or combinations thereof) whereby a user mayengage said upper arm rests (30, 40) or upper leg units (80, 90). Such aconfiguration may be desirable, for example, to better engage a user'sextremity with the rest or unit bearing such means. Such a configurationmay be particularly desirable if the user is an amputee.

Referring to FIGS. 2A-2F and 3A-3C, there are shown arm and legmovements that may be performed with the physical therapy device (10) ofthe present invention. When used in a seated position, the back rest(20) of the physical therapy device (10) may be positioned between theback of a user and, for example, a chair, a headboard, or any otherstructure supporting the user's torso in a substantially uprightposition. When used in a supine position, the back rest (20) of thephysical therapy device (10) may be positioned between the back of theuser and, for example, the floor, a bed, or a similar substantiallyplanar surface.

For the movements shown in FIGS. 2A-2F, the user may hold onto theergonomic handles (53, 63) that follow the shape of a user's arm (e.g.,the side or top of said handles). The upper (30, 40) and lower (50, 60)arm rests may rotate, via the connectors (201, 202, respectively)between the back rest (20) and upper arm rests (30, 40) and theconnectors (203, 204, respectively) between the upper arm rests (30, 40)and lower arm rests (50, 60), respectively, to accommodate various armmovements. The user may perform various movements such as, for example,adduction (arms straight out to the sides and moving towards the body)and abduction (arms straight at the sides of the body and moving awayfrom the body) as shown in FIG. 2A, arms straight out to the sides andmoving up and down along the body axis as shown in FIG. 2B, arms out tothe sides with elbows bent and moving up and down for a military pressas shown in FIG. 2C, arms out to the sides with elbows bent up andpulling together towards the chest as shown in FIG. 2D, arms straight upoverhead and pulling down as shown in FIG. 2E, or arms out to the frontwith elbows bent and moving up and down for a chest press as shown inFIG. 2F.

For the movements shown in FIGS. 3A-3F, the user may insert one or moreof their lower distal extremities into an appropriate stirrup or footbar (120). The upper (80, 90) and lower (100, 110) leg units may rotate,via the connectors (301, 302) between the extender (70) and upper legunits (80, 90) and the connectors (303, 304) between the upper leg units(80, 90) and lower leg units (100, 110), respectively, to accommodatevarious leg movements. The user may perform various movements such as,for example, adduction (legs straight out to the sides and movingtowards the body) and abduction (legs straight and moving away from thebody) as shown in FIG. 3A, knees bent and pulling the legs up towardsthe chest as shown in FIG. 3B, or legs straight and lifting up towardsthe chest as shown in FIG. 3C.

The physical therapy device (10) of the present disclosure may be usefulin physical therapy facilities, stroke rehabilitation facilities,hospitals, fitness centers, and spinal, thoracic/cardiac, or orthopedicsurgery facilities. The physical therapy device (10) may be used tostrengthen and prevent atrophy in wheelchair bound or bed-bound people,pregnant women on bed rest, multiple sclerosis patients, musculardystrophy patients, and patients recovering from accidents, injuries,surgery, or stroke. The physical therapy device (10) may also be used byathletes for training, by chair-bound office employees for exercise, orby persons in zero- or micro-gravity conditions to slow or preventmuscle atrophy.

Item # Physical Therapy Device 10 Head Rest 11 Back Rest 20 Back Rest,front 21 Back Rest, back 22 Back Rest, upper side 23 Back Rest, lowerside 24 Back Rest, right side 25 Back Rest, left side 26 Back Rest,upper-right side 27 Back Rest, upper-left side 28 Right Upper Arm Rest30 Right Upper Arm Rest, proximal end 31 Right Upper Arm Rest, distalend 32 Left Upper Arm Rest 40 Left Upper Arm Rest, proximal end 41 LeftUpper Arm Rest, distal end 42 Right Lower Arm Rest 50 Right Lower ArmRest, proximal end 51 Right Lower Arm Rest, distal end 52 Right LowerArm Rest, handle 53 Left Lower Arm Rest 60 Left Lower Arm Rest, proximalend 61 Left Lower Arm Rest, distal end 62 Left Lower Arm Rest, handle 63Extender 70 Extender, front 71 Extender, upper side 73 Extender, lowerside 74 Extender, right side 75 Extender, left side 76 Extender, back 77Right Upper Leg Unit 80 Right Upper Leg Unit, proximal end 81 RightUpper Leg Unit, distal end 82 Left Upper Leg Unit 90 Left Upper LegUnit, proximal end 91 Left Upper Leg Unit, distal end 92 Right Lower LegUnit 100 Right Lower Leg Unit, proximal end 101 Right Lower Leg Unit,distal end 102 Left Lower Leg Unit 110 Left Lower Leg Unit, proximal end111 Left Lower Leg Unit, distal end 112 Stirrup/Foot Bar 120 Hinge Joint201 Hinge Joint 202 Hinge Joint 203 Hinge Joint 204 Hinge Joint 301Hinge Joint 302 Hinge Joint 303 Hinge Joint 304 Attachment Means 400Sleeve 410 Belt 420 Clips 430

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together may also find a useful application in other types ofmethods differing from the type described above. Without furtheranalysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the presentdisclosure that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptit for various applications without omitting features that, from thestandpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics ofthe generic or specific aspects of this disclosure set forth in theappended claims. The foregoing embodiments are presented by way ofexample only; the scope of the present disclosure is to be limited onlyby the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A physical therapy device comprising: a backrest; a right upper arm rest removably coupled to the back rest by afirst connector; a left upper arm rest removably coupled to the backrest by a second connector; a right lower arm rest removably coupled tothe right upper arm rest by a third connector; a left lower arm restremovably coupled to the left upper arm rest by a fourth connector;wherein each lower arm rest comprises a handle, and wherein the rightand left upper arm rests are configured to move toward the back rest atthe first and second connectors, respectively, to fold flush against theback rest.
 2. The physical therapy device of claim 1, further comprisinga plurality of clips coupled to the back rest, wherein the clips areconfigured to fold flush against the back rest and to attach to a backof a chair, a wheelchair, and/or a headboard.
 3. The physical therapydevice of claim 1, further comprising a head rest coupled to the backrest, wherein the head rest is configured to fold flush against the backrest.
 4. The physical therapy device of claim 1, wherein: the first andthe second connectors are configured to provide variable resistancebetween the back rest and the right and left upper arm rests,respectively, and the third and fourth connectors are configured toprovide variable resistance between the right upper arm rest and theright lower arm rest and between the left upper arm rest and the leftlower arm rest, respectively.
 5. The physical therapy device of claim 1,wherein: the right lower arm rest is configured to move toward rightupper arm rest at the third connector to fold flush against the rightupper arm rest, and the left lower arm rest is configured to move towardleft upper arm rest at the fourth connector to fold flush against theleft upper arm rest.
 6. The physical therapy device of claim 1, whereinthe handle comprises an ergonomical mold.
 7. The physical therapy deviceof claim 1, further comprising: an extender removably coupled to theback rest; a right upper leg unit removably coupled to the extender by afifth connector; a left upper leg unit removably coupled to the extenderby a sixth connector; a right lower leg unit removably coupled to theright upper leg unit by a seventh connector, a left lower leg unitremovably coupled to the left upper leg unit by a eighth connector,wherein each lower leg unit comprises a stirrup.
 8. The physical therapydevice of claim 7, wherein the right upper leg unit is configured tomove toward the back rest at the fifth connector to fold flush againstthe back rest and the left upper leg unit is configured to move towardthe back rest at the sixth connector to fold flush against the backrest.
 9. The physical therapy device of claim 7, wherein the right andleft lower leg units are configured to move toward the right and leftupper leg units, respectively, at the seventh and eighth connectors,respectively, to fold flush against the respective upper leg units. 10.The physical therapy device of claim 7, wherein the first and the secondconnectors are configured to provide variable resistance between theback rest and the right and left upper arm rests, respectively, thethird and fourth connectors are configured to provide variableresistance between the right upper arm rest and the right lower arm restand between the left upper arm rest and the left lower arm rest,respectively, the fifth and sixth connectors are configured to providevariable resistance between the back rest and the right and left upperleg units, respectively, and the seventh and eighth connectors areconfigured to provide variable resistance between the right upper legunit and the right lower leg unit and between the left upper leg unitand the left lower leg unit, respectively.
 13. The physical therapydevice of claim 1, wherein the back rest, the right and left upper armrests, and the right and left lower arm rests comprise a syntheticmaterial or a resin covered in light padding.
 14. The physical therapydevice of claim 7, wherein the right and left upper leg rests and theright and left lower leg rests comprise a synthetic material or a resincovered in light padding.
 15. The physical therapy device of claim 7,wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, andeighth connectors are adjustable-tension connectors.
 16. The physicaltherapy device of claim 1, wherein: each upper arm rest is configured tomove radially with respect to the back rest, the right lower arm rest isconfigured to move radially with respect to the right upper arm rest,and the left lower arm rest is configured to move radially with respectto the left upper arm rest.
 17. The physical therapy device of claim 7,wherein: each upper arm rest is configured to move radially with respectto the back rest, the right lower arm rest is configured to moveradially with respect to the right upper arm rest, the left lower armrest is configured to move radially with respect to the left upper armrest. each upper leg unit is configured to move radially with respect tothe back rest, the right lower leg unit is configured to move radiallywith respect to the right upper leg unit, and the left lower leg unit isconfigured to move radially with respect to the left upper leg unit. 18.The physical therapy device of claim 10, wherein the first, second,third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth connectors provide forflexion and extension.
 19. The physical therapy device of claim 10,wherein the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, andeighth connectors provide for flexion/extension and/orinversion/eversion.
 20. The physical therapy device of claim 10, whereinthe first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighthconnectors provide pivotable movement.